Chapter 612: A Pill Star Rises in Moonrite
There was no cheering or surge of support from the tens of thousands of statues when Xu Qing walked out into the open. However, his words smashed into the Moonrebel Congregation like a hurricane. All of the statues were watching closely to see what would happen next.
Grandmaster Saintlowe looked at Xu Qing and said, “I don’t need any sort of contest. But I don’t mind tutoring you a bit. I just hope that, after today, you’ll understand deep in your heart that you should avoid crooked practices and corrupt methods!”
Not bothering to look at Xu Qing, Grandmaster Saintlowe lifted his right hand. The pill furnace hovering over his head then floated down into his hand. Next, it was with a flourish that he sent the medicinal pill inside of the furnace flying out into the open. It looked crystalline, and as it hovered in the air rotating, it let off streams of gauzy light that circled around it. It looked spectacularly beautiful, especially the crystalline exterior, which made the pill seem like a gemstone. Just barely visible within it were swirling medicinal vapors, as if the pill itself contained an immortal paradise.
Given Xu Qing’s skill in the dao of alchemy, it only took one glance for him to determine that this medicinal pill was extraordinary. It also gave him a good idea of Grandmaster Saintlowe’s dao of alchemy.
He really is something of a genius, he thought.
Meanwhile, when the crowd saw the medicinal pill, they started crying out loudly.
“Now that’s a medicinal pill! It’s clearly some kind of pill treasure!
“I never imagined that Grandmaster Saintlowe’s skill in the dao of alchemy would advance yet another step!”
Anyone would be shocked when judging the pill by appearance alone. In fact, one of Saintlowe’s followers stepped forth, eyes shining with reverence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Fellow Daoists!” he said loudly. “As you’re all aware, high-grade pills need to be perfect. The purer they are, the more precious they are. And when a pill reaches a certain exquisite level, Revered Ancient’s heavenly daos will bless it with splendid light. As for Grandmaster Saintlowe’s new pill, it has already attracted that splendid light!”
As the crowd erupted with even louder exclamations and cheers, countless longing gazes locked onto the pill.
Xu Qing’s followers were now really starting to lose confidence, and were exchanging awkward glances. Before, their faith in Grandmaster Pill Nine had been very strong. But after Saintlowe mentioned people dying because of the white wind, they started to get nervous. Then a pill appeared that seemed to be nothing short of a treasure, and all of a sudden, their confidence in Pill Nine was so shaken that they were starting to doubt him.
As the crowd continued to cheer, Fourth Vice-Bishop nodded approvingly.
“That’s truly a treasured pill. Grandmaster Saintlowe, can you mass-produce this pill?”
Saintlowe smiled in response to the vice-bishops praise. Clasping hands and bowing, he said, “Fourth Vice-Bishop, of course the pill can be mass-produced.”
“What benevolence!” the vice-bishop said with a smile.
Feeling extremely pleased with himself, Grandmaster Saintlowe turned to the expressionless Xu Qing. “This is the first lesson for this tutoring session. Remember, we pill cultivators pursue the dao of medicine because we’re fully devoted to it. Abandon your clever tricks. Stow away your unrighteous desires. If you don’t, then your heart won’t contain a scrap of light. Concocting pills should never be about personal glory!”
Grandmaster Saintlowe’s tone was one of rebuke. When everyone heard his words, they turned to look at Xu Qing, some of them shaking their heads, some of them looking derisive, some of them sighing, and some of them even angry.
Xu Qing didn’t reply. Instead, he just took out his cursequelling lozenge. With the wave of his hand, he sent it floating out in front of him. The pill was pitch black and didn’t look special at all. In fact, it immediately provoked laughter and criticism.
“Is that a medicinal pill or a clump of dirt?”
“That’s all?”
As the mocking laughter spread, Xu Qing performed an incantation gesture and pointed out. Instantly, popping sounds rang out from the medicinal pill as cracks appeared on its surface.
Next, the outer black layer fell off, whereupon splendid light erupted that could topple mountains and drain seas. The mighty glow seemed to have no end; it was like the light of dawn, filling the world with hope. Every beam of light was like a rainbow, dazzling and beautiful. The dome of heaven was illuminated, and the sky filled with auspicious sights. It spread out over the lands, filling them with propitious tidings. From a distance, it was as if that medicinal pill was the center of a vast sea of light that spread out resplendently.
The cultivators in the Moonrebel Congregation were stunned down to the last one. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that the two pills hovering in midair were vastly different from each other.
Although Grandmaster Saintlowe’s pill shone with splendid light, the light coming from Xu Qing’s medicinal pill was so superior that it drowned the other pill out. Grandmaster Saintlowe’s pill was dim in comparison, to the point where its existence seemed meaningless.
Loud gasps rang out left and right, and after a moment, exclamations of shock began to ring out.
“A blessing of boundless splendid light from a heavenly dao?”
“That sort of splendid light... isn’t that what Grandmaster Saintlowe always says you’ll see with the highest quality pill?”
“There really is a pill like that? If I remember correctly, only a pill that contains destiny aura, plus the converged hope of all living beings, could possibly be blessed by a heavenly dao with such splendid light!”
As expressions of incredulity rang out from the crowd, Grandmaster Saintlowe stood there staring blankly at Xu Qing’s medicinal pill. His eyes shone with disbelief, and he opened his mouth to speak, except he couldn’t think of what to say.
Up above, the 3,000-meter-tall god-like Fourth Vice-Bishop rose to his feet and looked down at the pill. He was visibly moved, and he was even breathing heavily.
“Grandmaster Pill Nine, is this pill... the cursequelling lozenge?”
It was the first time he had ever spoken to Xu Qing, and he even used the title ‘grandmaster’ when he did. That was very significant.
Xu Qing nodded.
Most excited of all were Xu Qing’s followers. Whether it was the burly neighbor or the six-eyed statue, all of them were bursting with enthusiasm. Before, their confidence had been shaken, and they even started to doubt. But now, all of that was replaced by unswerving determination and exhilaration.
That was especially true of the six-eyed statue, who loudly proclaimed, “Grandmaster Pill Nine, your virtue reaches the highest heavens! Your pills can conquer ten oceans, forge a hundred worlds, last a thousand autumns, and survive ten thousand generations!”
In response to his words, Xu Qing’s other followers excitedly started calling out the same thing.
Seeing that, Grandmaster Saintlowe’s followers offered retorts, although they seemed a bit less confident than before.
“The outside of a medicinal pill isn’t that important! After all, you’re supposed to consume them. The medicinal effect is the most important aspect!”
“That’s right. Grandmaster Saintlowe’s painquelling lozenge is twice as effective as the old version, and it has fewer side-effects. It’s truly a virtuous pill that can help quell the pain we suffer from the curse!”
As their words reverberated in the Moonrebel Congregation, Grandmaster Saintlowe took a deep breath to overcome his astonishment. Looking at Xu Qing with a complicated expression, he said, “My painquelling lozenge will reduce the pain of the curse for a full sixty-year-cycle!”
With that, he stared at Xu Qing as surely as if he were a deadly archenemy.
When the crowd heard that, the crowd seemed to gain their senses after having been stunned by the splendid light from Xu Qing’s pill. After all, it was true that medicinal pills were supposed to be consumed. After hearing Grandmaster Saintlowe’s explanation of his pill, their eyes started shining.
Xu Qing didn’t care at all how Saintlowe was looking at him. Focusing on his cursequelling lozenge, he calmly said, “My pill will permanently reduce the curse by ten percent.”
Although he didn’t speak very loudly, his words had the same effect as a clap of thunder. Everyone in the Moonrebel Congregation felt like they were being struck to the heart.
Instantly, the entire Moonrebel Congregation went silent. Everyone was completely stunned. Granted, the name of the pill itself made it easy to guess what it did. But the words coming out of Xu Qing’s mouth were almost completely outrageous. Some people even questioned if they had even heard correctly.
Grandmaster Saintlowe’s pupils constricted, and he suddenly turned to look closer at Xu Qing’s pill. His heart was currently being assailed by huge waves of shock. However, his years of experience allowed him to quickly gather his thoughts.
“Impossible! The only way it could do that is if it has massive side effects. For example, whoever consumes it will die violently a few days later!”
Xu Qing kept his gaze locked on Saintlowe as he calmly responded, “It has no side-effects.”
Everyone was yet again shaken to the core. Saintlowe shivered. And yet, his eyes remained extremely suspicious as he stared at Xu Qing.
“That’s complete nonsense! Who are you, the red moon godchild? Except not even the godchild could do that! Don’t tell me you’re a god or something? What a joke!”
“Let’s test it out,” Xu Qing said, remaining just as calm as before. He looked out at the crowd. “Who wants to volunteer?”
As the crowd hesitated, Grandmaster Saintlowe laughed coldly. “If you consume that pill, you’ll definitely face hidden calamities!”
The crowd hesitated even more. Not even the burly neighbor seemed willing to step forward. But then, a piercing voice echoed out in all directions.
“Fine. I’ll give it a try!” Everyone looked over to see a six-eyed statue proudly walking out of the crowd. Approaching Xu Qing, he clasped hands and bowed deeply. “All of you are hesitant about the grandmaster’s medicinal pill. Clearly, you lack piety. But not me! I have full confidence in the grandmaster. I’ll try this pill!”
Xu Qing felt a bit strange as he looked at the Captain, but he didn’t say anything.
As all eyes focused on the Captain, the burly neighbor suddenly rushed forward.
“Grandmaster!” he cried. “Allow me to try the pill!! Sir, I’m the one who heard your dao reverberations for two months. That proves we have a predestined affinity! After that, I bought your very first medicinal pill. Since I was the first to try your pill, let’s continue the tradition! Please, Grandmaster, allow me to be the one!”
The burly neighbor’s eyes glittered brightly as he looked at Xu Qing with a pious expression.
The six-eyed cultivator was obviously not very happy.
Xu Qing mulled it over, then waved his hand, sending the medicinal pill shooting toward the burly cultivator. The Captain had too many random things inside him, and Xu Qing was worried there could be some sort of negative reaction.
The burly cultivator caught the pill. Taking a deep breath, and eyes shining with determination, he put the pill in his mouth as everyone looked on, including Grandmaster Saintlowe and Fourth Vice-Bishop.
The vice-bishop then made a grasping gesture, causing the burly neighbor to fly up to him. There, Fourth Vice-Bishop’s power enveloped him, not only to bless him, but also to make sure everyone could see clearly.
The burly man first shivered. Then sweat broke out on his forehead. His expression became one of pain. Then he began to shine with splendid light as black fluid oozed out of his statue's exterior. As the noxious, rotting smell of the fluid spread, a tremor passed through the burly man. Then his eyes opened, and they gleamed with incredulity and astonishment.
“My curse...” he murmured. “It’s been reduced by ten percent!”
His words rang in the ears of the gathered crowds in the Moonrebel Congregation. Crazed looks appeared in the eyes of many, and yet, some were still suspicious and looked at Fourth Vice-Bishop.
The vice-bishop closed his eyes. Everyone waited anxiously. Then he opened his eyes and slowly descended from above until he was right in front of Xu Qing. He looked at Xu Qing for a long moment. Then, despite his extremely honored position, he clasped hands and bowed.
“You are the epitome of benevolence and morality, Grandmaster. There is no end to your virtuous achievements!”
His words struck down like a lightning bolt.
Every statue in the Moonrebel Congregation was shaken to the core, and all of their suspicions vanished, to be replaced by fervent ardor. Boundless anticipation and excitement filled their hearts, which then transformed into innumerable cheers that shook the Moonrebel Congregation.
As of this moment, Xu Qing had become like the brightest star in the sky.